Compare towns
Needham vs Underhill vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Needham | Underhill | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
3,141Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Needham | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.